Christmas Concert

Holme Cultram Abbey provided the setting for an uplifting Christmas concert given by Dalston Male Voice Choir, with guests The Gala Trio.

Under the expert baton of Michael Deakin and with sensitive piano accompaniments from Lorraine Gash, the audience was treated to a pleasingly varied selection of songs. The choir opened with some old favourites, ‘All the Things you are’ and ‘Autumn Leaves’ in which an endearingly gentle tenor opening melody blossomed into a full, well-blended choral sound, which was further enhanced by the glorious acoustics of the abbey.

There followed a successful rendition of a piece new to the choir, ‘Diolch I’r Ior’ (we look forward to hearing the Welsh version in the future!) and a very confident performance of a World War 1 medley, entitled ‘Till the Boys Come Home’, including a super tenor solo from Jonathan Richardson.

The talented Gala Trio, Gabrielle Sanders (oboe), Anne Louise Rothwell (clarinet) and Angela Turner (flute) gave very polished performances throughout the afternoon. In ‘Alice and the Mad Hatter’ by Geoffrey Russell-Smith (who, incidentally, is the only person I have ever met who can sing two voice parts at the same time!); ‘Nutcracker Surprise’ by Duncan Stubbs and the specially-commissioned ‘Carols for Three’ by local composer Philip Wood, the trio displayed some excellent ensemble-playing, with great interplay between parts and careful articulation from all players. Their expressive playing captured the essence of each piece and delighted the audience.

The choir’s Christmas selection was pleasingly varied. There were arrangements of ‘Joy to the World’, ‘When a Child is Born’ (with some very rich, resonant lines from the basses) Chestnuts Roasting…..’ to name but a few, all sung with clear diction, careful sharing of the melodic line and a good range of dynamics.

For me, however, the highlights were ‘Infant Holy’ which was particularly beautiful in its unaccompanied section; O Holy Night’ which captured the serenity of the occasion and a very accomplished performance of Te Laudamus’, where some strong unison singing burst forth into well-balanced harmonies.

If I were to wear my critical hat, then perhaps I would have liked a couple of the pieces to have been sung a little more quickly, but all in all, a really enjoyable afternoon of music which was perfectly rounded off with a choir encore of ,’ Winter Wonderland’ and a magnificent buffet, provided by the ladies from the abbey.